From Okotoks to a shot at playing for the Boston Red Sox for Jordan Procyshen

Scott Cruickshank, Calgary Herald06.08.2014

Tijana Martin, Calgary Herald. CALGARY, AB .: AUGUST 5, 2013 -- Jordan Procyshen of the Okotoks Dawgs makes a run to homebase during game five of the opening round of the Western Major Baseball League playoffs against the Lethbridge Bulls at Seaman Stadium in Okotoks onMonday, August 5, 2013. ( Tijana Martin/ Calgary Herald) For SPORTS story by No Reporter Assigned . Trax # {source)

Keenly, he followed the proceedings online. Which added up to days and days of scouring — with no hint of his name.

This year, he monitored the Major League Baseball draft’s opening two rounds. That had been Thursday.

Then he suffered through Friday’s snub.

“I won’t say it was a struggle,” said Jordan Procyshen. “But it was kind of a different day. A lot of emotions went on. An up-and-down day.”

What’s a guy to do?

Snap shut that laptop, for starters.

So as the MLB revved up Saturday morning — for its third day of drafting — Procyshen and his brother, Jared, and a couple buddies got tee times at Crystal Ridge Golf Course in Okotoks. Off they went.

“We didn’t want to sit around,” said Procyshen. “We decided to have some fun. Go out on the golf course, enjoy the time, instead of sitting around the computer all day.”

Just when he’d started getting his mind off baseball — the seventh hole or so — his phone buzzed.

“It was a friend and I was, ‘Oh, crap. What’s he doing calling me?’ ” said Procyshen. “Then he goes, ‘You’re a Red Sock.’ I was like, ‘What?’ And he’s like, ‘It’s the 14th round — the Boston Red Sox just selected you.’ I couldn’t believe it.

“And honestly? I can’t remember one shot after it happened.”

Because it was all true.

Procyshen — a graduate of the Fish Creek Little League and Okotoks Dawgs programs — had been nabbed by the World Series champs with the 434th overall pick.

“You know, it’s just an unbelievable feeling to have the honour of a team selecting me ... putting faith in me,” said Procyshen, a catcher with defensive and offensive upside. “I was talking to the Boston Red Sox this spring. They were one of the teams that talked to me a lot. I can’t say that I was expecting it. But I was really hoping it was going to happen. Sure enough, I got the call.

“I am beyond excited and happy with being taken in the 14th round.”

During the afternoon’s interview, the 21-year-old insisted on shout-outs to his supportive parents, Dave and Lori, but it was the young man himself who put in the work.

“It’s every little kid’s dream to become a Major League player,” said Procyshen, who, after two years of junior college in Colorado, played this past season for Northern Kentucky University. “To get there you have to get drafted and become part of the one of the organizations. It’s really unbelievable now. It’s still sinking in. I keep saying to my family and friends, ‘I can’t believe it. I can’t believe it.’ And they’re telling me I’ve got to shut up because it actually happened. Just a surreal feeling right now.”

One pick after Procyshen — at No. 435 — the St. Louis Cardinals took Chris Shaw, a Brandon, Man., native who also played ball in Okotoks.

“That’s cool,” he said, “to have two J-Dawgs go back-to-back.”

Now, before any summer assignments, comes the negotiating process. Signing a real-live contract.

“This is my first time ever having this happen,” said Procyshen, “so I’m not sure exactly how long it’s going to take. Once the process is finalized, they’ll tell me where to report and I’ll start playing baseball again. I want to get ready and become a member of the Red Sox as fast as I can.”

The wait, of course, had been long enough.

Not that Procyshen is complaining.

“Everything happens for a reason,” said the six-foot, 205-pounder. “All those early mornings, working out at 6 a.m. All those late nights, when you have to go to batting practice (the next day), when you have to go practise with the team. Just all those tough days when you’re like, ‘Ah, do I want to keep doing it?’ and the days when you just grind it out.

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From Okotoks to a shot at playing for the Boston Red Sox for Jordan Procyshen

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